Aluminium modulation of the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle in Zea mays

Two-weeks-old maize (Zea mays L. cv. XL-72.3) plants were submitted to Al concentrations of 0-81 g m-3 for 20 d, after which the A1 concentration-dependent effects on CO2 uptake by the mesophyll tissue and subsequent CO2 assimilation in the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle of bundle sheath cells were investigated. The net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs) increased continuously up to 27 g m-3 Al, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration showed minimum values with the 27 g m-3 Al treatment. Moreover, the starch and saccharide concentrations, and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase did not change significantly with increasing Al concentrations. The photosynthetic electron transport rates along with photosystems 2 and 1 started falling from 9 g m-3 Al onwards, while thylakoid acyl lipid composition did not show a clear pattern. With the Al concentration at 81 g m-3, NADP-malate dehydrogenase activity decreased to minimum values, whereas the opposite occurred with those of pyruvate dikinase, NADP-malic enzyme, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Thus in vivo Al concentrations modulate the photosynthetic reduction cycle, possibly by interacting with the carbon flow rate exported to the cytosol. Although the inhibition of NADP-malate dehydrogenase activity might limit pyruvate dikinase, NADP-malic enzyme, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities, in vivo the balance between phosphoenolpyruvate production and its carboxylation remains unaffected.     

Effect of Drought Stress on Certain Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of a Resistant and a Sensitive Canola Cultivar

Water stress is one of the main abiotic factors that reduces plant growth, mainly due to high evaporative demand and low water availability. In order to evaluate the effects of drought stress on certain morphological and physiological characteristics of two canola cultivars, we conducted a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. The findings show that drought stress exacerbations result in the plant's response to stress due to increased canola resistance caused by changes in plant pigments, proline, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde, glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose. These in turn ultimately influence the morphological characteristics of canola. Drought stress reduces the concentration of carotenoids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls; however, glucose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose, proline, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde (in leaves and roots) and the chlorophyll a and b ratios were increased. Reduction of plant height, stem height, root length, fresh and dry weight of canola treated with 300 g/l PEG compared to non‐treatment were 0.264, 0.236, 0.394, 0.183 and 0.395, respectively. From the two canola cultivars, the morphological characteristics of the NIMA increased compared to the Ks7 cultivar. Interaction effects of cultivar and drought stress showed that NIMA cultivar without treatment had the highest number of morphological characteristics such as carotenoid concentration, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls a and b, whereas the cultivar with 300 g/l PEG (drought stress) had the highest amount of proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars and enzymes in leaves and roots. Increasing activity of oxidative enzymes and soluble sugars in canola under drought stress could be a sign of their relative tolerance to drought stress.     

亏缺灌溉对板蓝根叶片光合生理特性及产量的影响

以北板蓝根(Isatis tinctoria)为研究对象, 于2018年在河西走廊中部干旱绿洲开展水分控制试验, 设轻、中、重度亏水及充分供水4个控水水平, 通过大田试验探究膜下滴灌条件下亏缺灌溉对板蓝根叶片生理指标、灌水量及产量的影响, 为河西地区板蓝根灌溉策略的制定提供理论依据。结果表明, 板蓝根叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(G_s)因营养和肉质根生长期受到亏缺灌溉影响而显著下降, 降幅随亏水程度的加剧而增大, 轻度亏水处理对叶片光合能力的影响不显著, 且在复水之后存在一定的补偿响应; 轻度亏水处理的产量与对照(8 348.91 kg·hm^-2)相比无显著差异, 而其它处理的产量均有不同程度的下降; 灌水量与产量的拟合关系呈二次抛物线, 即产量不随灌水量的增加而升高。因此, 综合分析表明膜下滴灌调亏降低了板蓝根叶片的光合能力, 而营养生长期轻度亏缺灌溉可以节水并提高产量和灌溉效率。     

Characterization and antioxidant activity of an exopolysaccharide produced by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides JF17 from juçara fruits (Euterpe edulis Martius)

Juçara palm tree is considered an important species in the Atlantic forest ecosystem and the exploitation of its fruits is a main sustainable strategy adopted to its maintenance. Among several microorganisms in the juçara fruits, were found lactic acid bacteria (LAB) highly capable of synthesizing exopolysaccharides (EPS). Thus, the EPS synthesized by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides JF17 was characterized according to its chemical structure, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis showed that the EPS consisted of a homopolysaccharide composed of glucose units, FT-IR spectroscopy revealed a dextran, confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra which showed the composition of the polysaccharide, d-glucose units bound by α-(1→6). The EPS showed high water retention capacity, 507.812 ± 47.471 %, and may be related to the porous structure revealed by SEM images. Thermal analysis indicated that the EPS had excellent thermal stability with degradation temperature of 320.8 °C and melting point at 279.81 °C, with the enthalpy of 106.557 J/g. The EPS also presented sequestration ability on different free radicals tested, indicating high antioxidant activity. The results suggest that L. pseudomesenteroides JF17 might be widely used in the production of dextran which has potential qualities for applications in the food industry.     

Variation in the phenology of photosynthesis among eastern white pine provenances in response to warming

In higher‐latitude trees, temperature and photoperiod control the beginning and end of the photosynthetically active season. Elevated temperature (ET) has advanced spring warming and delayed autumn cooling while photoperiod remains unchanged. We assessed the effects of warming on the length of the photosynthetically active season of three provenances of Pinus strobus L. seedlings from different latitudes, and evaluated the accuracy of the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and the chlorophyll/carotenoid index (CCI) for tracking the predicted variation in spring and autumn phenology of photosynthesis among provenances. Seedlings from northern, local and southern P. strobus provenances were planted in a temperature‐free‐air‐controlled enhancement (T‐FACE) experiment and exposed to ET (+1.5/3°C; day/night). Over 18 months, we assessed photosynthetic phenology by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, leaf spectral reflectance and pigment content. During autumn, all seedlings regardless of provenance followed the same sequence of phenological events with the initial downregulation of photosynthesis, followed by the modulation of non‐photochemical quenching and associated adjustments of zeaxanthin pool sizes. However, the timing of autumn downregulation differed between provenances, with delayed onset in the southern provenance (SP) and earlier onset in the northern relative to the local provenance, indicating that photoperiod at the provenance origin is a dominant factor controlling autumn phenology. Experimental warming further delayed the downregulation of photosynthesis during autumn in the SP. A provenance effect during spring was also observed but was generally not significant. The vegetation indices PRI and CCI were both effective at tracking the seasonal variations of energy partitioning in needles and the differences of carotenoid pigments indicative of the stress status of needles. These results demonstrate that PRI and CCI can be useful tools for monitoring conifer phenology and for the remote monitoring of the length of the photosynthetically active season of conifers in a changing climate.     

基于景观尺度下的鄱阳湖湿地浅层土有机碳的空间特征

湿地土壤有机碳研究是全球碳循环研究的基础性工作, 对于准确评估湿地固碳增汇和全球温室气体减排都具有重要意义。以鄱阳湖国家自然保护区为研究区域, 选择六种景观类型(湿地洲滩景观包括受人工控制的碟形湖泊常湖池、半人工控制的碟形湖泊蚌湖、不受人工控制的洲滩前缘泗洲头以及岗地景观包括林地、田地和菜地), 湿地洲滩景观在各1 m高程(泗洲头和蚌湖采样高程10-17 m, 常湖池采样高程12-17 m)内的浅土壤采取3个土壤样品, 岗地景观浅层土壤各采取3个土壤样品, 分析浅层土壤有机碳含量。结果表明, 鄱阳湖不同景观类型的浅层土壤有机碳含量差异性显著。湿地洲滩浅层土壤(特别是0-10 cm土层)的有机碳随高程梯度变化呈现倒U型变化, 即低海拔与高海拔土壤有机碳的含量较中海拔土壤有机碳的含量低, 泗洲头洲滩土层0-10 cm的有机碳含量最高值出现在13-14 m高程, 其中0-10 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为1.56-12.29 g·kg-1, 10-20 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为0.96-8.19 g·kg-1; 蚌湖洲滩土层0-10 cm的有机碳含量最高值出现在14-15 m高程, 其中0-10 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为6.36-23.32 g·kg-1, 10-20 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为4.14-8.88 g·kg-1; 常湖池洲滩土层0-10 cm的有机碳含量最高值出现在16-17 m高程, 其中0-10 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为6.51-18.91 g·kg-1, 10-20 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量变化值为3.83-10.05 g·kg-1。岗地浅层土壤有机碳(特别是0-10 cm土层)田地的土壤有机碳含量最高, 菜地土壤有机碳含量最低。比较六种景观类型的浅层土壤有机碳含量, 泗洲头洲滩浅层土壤有机碳含量最低, 蚌湖洲滩浅层土壤有机碳含量最高。六种景观类型的浅层土壤有机碳含量呈现一致的现象是土层0-10 cm的机碳含量明显高于土层10-20 cm的有机碳含量, 说明鄱阳湖国家自然保护区内土壤有机碳含量主要富集在土壤浅层的特征。土壤pH值对湿地土壤有机碳呈显著负相关性, 而土壤含水量、地上部分生物量与土壤有机碳呈显著正相关性。     

17个建兰品种光合特性分析

以17个建兰(Cymbidium ensifolium)品种为材料,采用改良的丙酮法提取叶绿素,再通过Arnon丙酮法公式计算光合色素含量,利用捷克FluorCam开放式叶绿素荧光仪测定不同品种的叶绿素荧光参数。结果表明,17个建兰品种的光合色素和叶绿素荧光参数具有不同程度的差异,其中‘铁骨素’(C. ensifolium ‘Tiegusu’)、‘逸红双娇’(C. ensifolium ‘Yihongshuangjiao’)和‘闽南黄蝶’(C. ensifolium ‘Minnanhuangdie’)的光合色素含量高于其他品种,表明这3个品种具有良好的光合效率,吸收光能的能力较强;‘铁骨素’最大荧光产量(Fm)、Kautsky诱导效应最大荧光(Fp)、PS Ⅱ原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)和非光化荧光淬灭系数(NPQ)均为最高。综上可知,‘铁骨素’的光合生理特性优于其他品种,可作为优良建兰品种进行种植推广。     

Photosynthetic Reduction of Xylose to Xylitol Using Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic generation of reducing power makes cyanobacteria an attractive host for biochemical reduction compared to cell‐free and heterotrophic systems, which require burning of additional resources for the supply of reducing equivalent. Here, using xylitol synthesis as an example, efficient uptake and reduction of xylose photoautotrophically in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 are demonstrated upon introduction of an effective xylose transporter from Escherichia coli (Ec‐XylE) and the NADPH‐dependent xylose reductase from Candida boidinii (Cb‐XR). Simultaneous activation of xylose uptake and matching of cofactor specificity enabled an average xylitol yield of 0.9 g g^?1 xylose and a maximum productivity of about 0.15 g L^?1 day^?1 OD^?1 with increased level of xylose supply. While long‐term cellular maintenance still appears challenging, high‐density conversion of xylose to xylitol using concentrated resting cell further pushes the titer of xylitol formation to 33 g L^?1 in six days with 85% of maximum theoretical yield. While the results show that the unknown dissipation of xylose can be minimized when coupled to a strong reaction outlet, it remains to be the major hurdle hampering the yield despite the reported inability of cyanobacteria to metabolize xylose.